Project description:During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, home-quarantine has been necessary, resulting in lifestyle changes that might negatively affect patients with spinal disorders, including a reduction in their quality of life (QoL) and activities of daily living (ADLs). However, studies on this impact are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the age-related changes in QoL and ADLs in patients with spinal disorders, and also identify factors associated with decline in ADLs. This multicenter cross-sectional study included patients who visited four private spine clinics for any symptoms. The study participants either had a clinic reservation, were first-time clinic visitors, or had a return visit to the clinic. The participants completed several questionnaires at two points: pre-pandemic and post-second wave. Changes in patient symptoms, exercise habits, ADLs, and health-related QoL were assessed. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of each variable for decline in ADLs. We included 606 patients; among them, 281 and 325 patients were aged <65 and ≥65 years, respectively. Regarding exercise habits, 46% and 48% of the patients in the <65 and ≥65-year age groups, respectively, did not change their exercise habits. In contrast, 40% and 32% of the patients in the <65 and ≥65-year age groups, respectively, decreased their exercise habits. In the multivariate analysis, the adjusted ORs for sex (female), decreased exercise habit, and age >65 years were 1.7 (1.1-2.9), 2.4 (1.4-3.9), and 2.7 (1.6-4.4), respectively. In conclusion, there was a decline in the ADLs and QoL after the COVID-19 outbreak in patients with spinal disorders. Aging, reduction of exercise habits, and female sex were independent factors related to decline in ADLs.
Project description:ObjectivesTo explore the association of gender inequality index (GII) with healthcare access and quality index (HAQI) for the male to female ratio of confirmed COVID-19 cases.Study designSecondary analysis of COVID-19 cases with GII and HAQI datasets.MethodsData for sex-disaggregated COVID-19 cases were collected from Global Health 50/50, for GII from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and for HAQI from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). We used Spearman's correlation in SPSS version 23 to evaluate the association between the variables.ResultsCambodia had the highest male to female ratio (M:F) of 4.08:1, followed by Pakistan (M:F = 2.85:1) and Nepal (M:F = 2.69:1). We observed a positive correlation between GII and M:F ratio (Spearman's rho = 0.681, P-value <0.001) and a negative correlation between HAQI and M:F ratio (Spearman's rho = -0.676, P-value <0.001).ConclusionsCountries with institutionalised gender disparities and poor healthcare access and quality tend to have higher M:F ratios of confirmed COVID-19 cases; thus, highlighting underutilisation of testing services, influenced by multiple individuals, social and policy factors. Robust gender-based data are required to understand disparities throughout the continuum of care and to devise gender-responsive pandemic strategies.
Project description:ObjectiveTo analyze the impact on the psychological and social aspects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria (GD).MethodsGoogle Forms inventory was sent via WhatsApp, including qualitative and quantitative questions evaluating three life dimensions denominated as Sociodemographic, Economic, and COVID-19 pandemic. It was applied in two periods: At the beginning of the pandemic (June-2020) (P1) and one year later (June-2021) (P2). The inventory also included questions about economic dimensions before the pandemic for individual comparison purposes (P0). 48 individuals (28 transsexual women, 20 transsexual men) participated in both periods.Results77.1% (n = 37) lived in Rio Grande do Sul, 50.0% (n = 24) refereed incomplete high school; Monthly Income increased significantly between the periods (P0) and (P1). Emergence aid approval was significantly higher in (P2), 56.3% (n = 27), compared to (P1), 39.6% (n = 19). A statistically significant difference was detected in the feeling of depression in the (P2) among the cases that requested Emergency Aid.ConclusionThe studied population presented deterioration regarding their condition of social vulnerability in relation to formal employment, access to health services, and mental health.
Project description:This study assesses governments' long-term non-pharmaceutical interventions upon the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in East Asia. It advances the literature towards a better understanding of when and which control measures are effective. We (1) provide time-varying case fatality ratios and focus on the elderly's mortality and case fatality ratios, (2) measure the correlations between daily new cases (daily new deaths) and each index based on multiple domestic pandemic waves and (3) examine the lead-lag relationship between daily new cases (daily new deaths) and each index via the cross-correlation functions on the pre-whitened series. Our results show that the interventions reduce COVID-19 infections for some periods before the period of the Omicron variant. Moreover, there is no COVID-19 policy lag in Taiwan between daily new confirmed cases and each index. As of March 2022, the case fatality ratios of the elderly group in Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea are 4.69%, 4.72% and 1.48%, respectively, while the case fatality ratio of the elderly group in Taiwan is 25.01%. A government's COVID-19 vaccination distribution and prioritisation policies are pivotal for the elderly group to reduce the number of deaths. Immunising this specific group as best as possible should undoubtedly be a top priority.
Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic prompted a refocus of health care resources to acute care which has impacted on the capacity of healthcare systems to conduct neurological surgeries. The elderly population has been shown to be particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the pandemic. Less neurosurgery can result in great impact on public health by increasing morbidity and mortality in patients with malignancies and traumatic injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurosurgical procedures in the elderly population in Sweden.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, the reported incidence of all neurosurgical procedures registered in the 21 Regions of Sweden during 2015-2021 in people aged 65 year or older was collected. Surgical procedures were classified according to the NOMESCO system of classification. Neurosurgery incidence was defined as the number of NOMESCO associated interventions per 100.000 inhabitants. ICD-10 codes associated with neurosurgery-related diagnoses and deaths were also collected. Expected incidence of neurosurgery, neurosurgery-associated deaths and brain cancer diagnoses was estimated and compared to actual outcomes. Decrease in the incidence of neurosurgery was compared to regional COVID-19 incidence, other types of surgery and surgery waiting times.ResultsThe incidence of several categories of neurosurgery decreased in Sweden during 2020 and 2021, although not as much as other surgical categories. Women were more affected than men by the decrease in neurosurgery which could be partly explained by a decrease in brain cancer diagnoses amongst women. There was an association between regional decrease in neurosurgery incidence and longer surgery waiting time. COVID-19 incidence in the region did not have an effect on regional decreases in neurosurgery incidence.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction in the number of neurosurgical procedures performed in Sweden during 2020-2021, although not as much as in other European countries. There was regional difference in Sweden with respect to number of surgeries, and waiting time for elective surgeries although there was no increase in mortality.
Project description:To understand and analyse the global impact of COVID-19 on outpatient services, inpatient care, elective surgery, and perioperative colorectal cancer care, a DElayed COloRectal cancer surgery (DECOR-19) survey was conducted in collaboration with numerous international colorectal societies with the objective of obtaining several learning points from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our colorectal cancer patients which will assist us in the ongoing management of our colorectal cancer patients and to provide us safe oncological pathways for future outbreaks.
Project description:Primary outcome(s): To evaluate the number of surgeries and short-term outcomes as well as change in time to treatment initiation (TTI) for two years COVID-19 spread period compared with the same two years before the pandemic.
Project description:The 2020 pandemic for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection has required strict measures for virus spreading reduction, including stay-at-home orders. To explore gender differences in mental health status after the first wave of the pandemic and in teleworking, we analyzed the frequency and distribution of emotions and coping strategies for facing the pandemic stratified by gender using data from an online survey conducted at the University of Salerno, Italy, between 11 May and 10 June 2020. The online questionnaire included 31 items on demographics, teleworking, COVID-19 emergency, and gender-based violence, with multiple-choice answers for some questions. Females felt significantly sadder (p = 0.0019), lonelier (p = 0.0058), more fearful (p = 0.0003), and more insecure (p = 0.0129) than males, experienced more sleep disorders (p = 0.0030), and were more likely to sanitize surfaces compared to males (p < 0.0001). Our results show gender differences in awareness and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic that differently influenced mood, as females were more frightened and worried than males.